Saturday, March 14, 2026

Class will meet once via Zoom on Saturday, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM EST

Any questions about this class? Use the Chat Button to talk with us. 

The session will be recorded and available to watch after the seminar concludes.

Instructor Bio

Instructor John Sibley Williams is the author of nine poetry collections, including Scale Model of a Country at Dawn (Cider Press Review Poetry Award), The Drowning House (Elixir Press Poetry Award), As One Fire Consumes Another (Orison Poetry Prize), Skin Memory (Backwaters Prize, University of Nebraska Press), skycrape (WaterSedge Poetry Chapbook Contest), and Summon (JuxtaProse Chapbook Prize). His book Sky Burial: New & Selected Poems is forthcoming in translation from the Portuguese press do lado esquerdo. A thirty-five-time Pushcart nominee, John serves as editor of The Inflectionist Review and Poetry Editor at Kelson Books. Previous publishing credits include Best American Poetry, Yale Review, Verse Daily, North American Review, Prairie Schooner, and TriQuarterly.

Who is this class for?

This online writing class is for writers in all genres interested in learning how book contracts work and what to expect when working with a publisher. Whether you're preparing to submit your first manuscript or seeking to better understand the industry, this workshop welcomes writers at all levels.

What to expect:

In today's competitive publishing landscape, authors and aspiring writers need a solid understanding of publishing contracts and book deals to navigate the complexities of the industry successfully. This creative writing workshop provides an essential overview of the key elements and considerations involved in these agreements, empowering participants to make informed decisions and protect their creative and financial interests.

Throughout this online writing class, participants will explore the crucial components of publishing contracts, including rights and royalties, manuscript delivery schedules, advance payments, and termination clauses. You will learn how to decipher contract language, negotiate favorable terms, and safeguard your intellectual property rights. Additionally, the course will delve into the intricacies of book deals, such as the importance of a well-crafted book proposal, agent representation, and the publishing process from acquisition to release.

By the end of this Zoom writing class, participants will have gained invaluable insights into the world of publishing contracts and book deals. You will be equipped with the knowledge to engage in meaningful discussions with publishers, agents, and other industry professionals. Whether seeking traditional publishing avenues or considering self-publishing, understanding these critical aspects will empower you to make informed decisions, protect your creative work, and maximize your opportunities for success in the publishing world.

What are the writing goals?

In this course, students will break down sample contracts, dissecting and discussing each element while looking for red flags. Participants will gain hands-on experience analyzing real contract language and identifying key terms that impact their publishing journey.

Readings

A workbook will be provided. No outside reading required.

COURSE OUTLINE

This comprehensive two-hour seminar will cover: understanding the key elements and components of publishing contracts; deciphering contract language and identifying important terms and clauses; knowledge of rights and royalties, advance payments, and manuscript delivery schedules; understanding termination clauses and their implications; insight into negotiating favorable terms and protecting intellectual property rights; familiarity with the intricacies of book deals and the publishing process; understanding the role of agents and their impact on book deals; and building confidence to engage in meaningful discussions with publishers and industry professionals.

COURSE TAKEAWAYS:

• Comprehensive understanding of the key elements and components of publishing contracts
• Ability to decipher contract language and identify important terms and clauses
• Knowledge of rights and royalties, advance payments, and manuscript delivery schedules
• Understanding of termination clauses and their implications
• Insight into negotiating favorable terms and protecting intellectual property rights
• Familiarity with the intricacies of book deals and the publishing process
• Understanding the role of agents and their impact on book deals
• Ability to engage in meaningful discussions with publishers and industry professionals
• Empowerment to make informed decisions and maximize opportunities for success in the publishing world

TESTIMONIALS:

“I feel so grateful to John for keeping his top-notch editing/critique and workshop rates quite affordable because it’s allowed me to make such remarkable improvements over just the last year. One major breakthrough I’ve made under his tutelage is to more keenly and instinctively write from the basis of image as opposed to the abstract questionings I would previously use to launch my poetic explorations. John’s feedback often includes suggestions for mini-exercises to help hone my weaker grasp on certain elements of craft, and his vast, wide-ranging knowledge of (and awe-inspiring passion for) all things poetry-related always ensured that there was never a shortage of new suggestions or approaches to try. John has that rare, all-inclusive teaching talent for being able to show not only the what and the why, but mostly importantly, the how. I can’t thank John enough for all his generosity with his skills and expertise. ” — Abigail Licad

“Over the past couple of years working together, I’ve found John Sibley Williams to be a careful reader/editor who is willing to push me out of longstanding habits. His critiques are straightforward, and his suggestions are clear and thought-provoking. John does not hesitate to push back strongly on pieces which are skeletal or merely musings without a center. That said he is also honest about his personal preferences. This provides room for my own instincts while alerting me to various untethered spots in the poems. I’m so grateful for John’s guidance which has deepened my thinking around process and craft.” — Greta Nintzel

“John is an exceptional teacher, poet, and editor. He expresses genuine interest in my poetry and progress as a poet, offering honest, insightful critiques and resources. I have taken his inspiring, generative workshops and received detailed feedback on individual poems as well as a thorough critique of a full-length manuscript. More than anything, John helps me deepen my understanding of my own aesthetic and draws out my poetic voice more fully.” — Sandra Fees

“I call John Sibley Williams trusted friend and reader now. When I shared my most recent manuscript with him, his responses were extremely thorough and sensitive. John deeply respected my poems and my intent, even when he had thoughtful and honest suggestions to offer. He was always cognizant of his approach versus my own, a rare gift.” — Amy Small-McKinney

“I have never received such detailed and genuine feedback of my poetry. Prompt in his turnaround and constructive at every level, John’s edits not only showed me a pathway out from the muddle I’d found myself in, but also key tactics to use in making myself a better poet. With a keen perception for theme and style, he understood completely the purpose and intended message of my manuscript. His feedback that was both holistic with a general overview and specific with line edits where needed. I will return to his editing services time and time again.” — Daniel Lassell

“I had an exceptionally positive experience working with John. He is a careful, thoughtful reader who can see what’s working well in a poem, and what needs a new approach. In my case, I had a few long poems that I could never seem to whip into shape. He helped me find the form that worked best for my material, and to find the sweet spot between providing enough information to a reader to follow along and maintaining the mystery in a poem that a reader wants to discover for themselves.” — Maximilian Heinegg

“Working with John Sibley Williams was a phenomenal experience that far exceeded my expectations. He provided nuanced readings of each one of my poems and attended to the larger themes in my collection. A generous editor, he saw what each poem was doing (or tried to do), then pinpointed ways to make it stronger. Through discerning and exacting feedback, he is also deeply respectful. His aesthetic range facilitates incisive feedback about how to maximize each poem’s effect on a potential reader. He also provided comments on my collection as a whole, including the sequencing of poems and the arc of the manuscript. In working with John, I learned so much about myself as a poet, and his feedback made me feel invigorated and ready to revise. Without a doubt, John is now one of my most important readers. I’ll definitely be sending him more work in the future!” — Shannon Winston

“For the price of a weekend writing workshop John provided personal feedback on my first collection of poems. He brought his experience, skill, and attention to each line. He helped me clarify what was working and what needed to be reworked, or cut, both on a particular and large scale. It was exactly what the book needed and well worth the price. His suggestions were insightful and improved the individual poems which made the whole collection feel ready! I highly recommend his editorial service to anyone who is preparing a manuscript.” — Twila Newey

“I met John at a time I was seeking to re-energize my poetry writing after a long hiatus. I started my collaboration with John by sending him 4 poems for his review—some new, some stuck in limbo for many years. I have found John’s review and commentary on my work to be very helpful, encouraging, and honest. He provides both big picture and detailed observations and, while my style is much different from his, I feel John respects and hears my voice. I look forward to continuing my work with him.” — Connie Soper

“I enjoyed the process and appreciate John’s careful eye. I really needed an objective viewpoint, which others hadn’t given me. John provided detailed responses and thorough line edits. He also has a great “bedside” manner, meaning that I asked for hard criticism and the truth and he provided those while being eager and encouraging, hard-nosed and exacting. I really appreciate this experience and want more of it.” — David Lohrey

“I worked with John Sibley Williams on two batches of poems and found his critique to be invaluable in my revision process. He is a very careful and thoughtful reader. He provided thorough and detailed responses to the poems as well as an overview response for each poem. He is able to critique work that is outside of his own aesthetic and his critique is offered in the spirit of making better poems. I highly recommend his services.” — Feral Willcox

PAYMENT OPTIONS:

• Instructor: John Sibley Williams
  
• Begins Saturday, March 14, 2026
  
• Class will meet once via Zoom on Saturday, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM EST
  
• Tuition is $99 USD.